What Counts as Income for the SSI Disability Limit?

Social Security ignores a certain amount of cash income but counts certain types of non-cash items as income.

You
are eligible for SSI only if your income falls under the income
limits of the SSI program. Income isn’t just money you make from a job,
however. In order to level the playing field between SSI
applicants, the Social Security Administration (SSA) counts the value of free
items, such as a room provided by a relative at no charge to you, as income. But
in addition, to encourage you to work and to account for some expenses, the SSA
allows you to exclude some money from your countable income.

How
Does the SSA Define Income?

The amount of money you make, called your
income, includes not just cash, but items that can
be used as -- or used to obtain -- food, clothing, or shelter. Specifically,
the SSA counts the following as income.

Money you earn as a result of performing work
(this is called "earned" income because you have to do something to
earn it).

Payments you receive from such sources as
Social Security, veterans benefits, a pension, alimony, or child support (this is generally called
"unearned income" because you don't do anything to get it each month).

Any type of free rent/shelter or food
benefits you are receiving from a nongovernmental source. For example, if you
are allowed to live rent free with a friend or your parents, this will be
considered as income (this is called "in-kind" income because it
isn't actually income, but it is essentially equal to earning the amount of
money you would otherwise have to pay for the food, rent, and life necessities
being provided to you).

A portion of income earned by other people in
your house (like your spouse). This is called "deemed" income, because
although you don't earn it, it is assumed that a portion of this money will go
towards your care and upkeep.

What Income Is Excluded From the SSI Income Limit?

The SSA does not
count the following income and benefits when calculating your income level:

$20
per month of income other than wages (unearned income)

$65
per month of wages (earned income) and one-half
of wages (earned income) over $65

wages
that go toward special impairment-related work expenses (IRWE) for disabled
persons or blind persons (BWE)

the first
$30 of infrequent or irregularly received earned income in a quarter

the first $60 of infrequent or irregularly
received unearned income in a quarter

medical care

reimbursement
of expenses from a social services agency

food
stamps, and

housing
or home energy assistance.

Generally, if someone gives you an item that can’t be used as
-- or used to obtain -- food, clothing, or shelter -- it will not be considered
as income. For example, if someone pays a doctor’s bill for you, it won’t be
counted as part of your income.

In addition, income set aside for an SSI “Plan
for Achieving Self-Support” (PASS) is not counted.